but that which is opposed to the Private Tradition of the Romanists and hath a certain Moral Universality and is built as to the Certainty upon Common natural and rational Grounds and not on the Romish pretended Authority or Infallibility See Mr. Baxter Pref. to his Book of Infidelity Argument the II. 2. THat Doctrine or those Writings that have been allways owned and countenanced by God ever since they were written must needs be Divine at least if they pretend so to be But the Doctrine contained in the Old and New Testament or the writings commonly called the Scriptures by way of Excellency are such therefore as God did own them in their very Conception and Birth by the many Miracles that did attest them so he hath owned them ever since they were conceived and brought forth in making them instrumental to so great a Change and Reformation in the world The hand of God doth appear most signally 1. In the Plantation 2. In the Propagation of this Doctrine The power and special Providence of God is observable First In the Plantation of this Doctrine if it be seriously considered 1. What instruments he made use of 2. What course they took to plant it 3. The Quality of the Doctrine they were to infuse and plant 4. The Mighty Enemies it had and yet 5. It took Root and prospered in despight of all And for the First viz. The instruments that God made use of that the effect might be acknowledged from him alone It was two or three poor despicable Fishermen and Mechanicks that first broached and planted this Doctrine which God so wonderfully watered and prepared room before it and did cause it to take deep root and it quickly filled the Earth The Hills were covered with the Shadow of it and the Boughs thereof were like the Goodly Cedars So that this Plant sent out her Boughs unto the Sea and her Branches unto the River Psal 80.9 10 11. Who can but ascribe the wonderful effect to God when the Planters of this Doctrine had neither first Learning 2ly Nor parts to carry on such a work 3ly Neither had they any worldly Interest or Authority Si fuerunt Homines rudes imperiti rerum quorum operâ deus est usus in tradendo verbo si non fuerunt summo loco nati si nullis humanis instructi praesidiis hanc rem aggressi sunt profecto oportet doctrinam ab ijs profectam esse plané divinam saith Camero Praelect de verb. dei p. 455. And for the 2d 1 The course that they took It was the certain way to ruin themselves and all their hopes in this world Before they undertook this work they were told by Christ their Master that they must be his Martyrs and bear witness to the Doctrine they were to preach by the Loss of their Credit Liberty and Lives And is it likely they would ever venture upon such a design if they had not good Security that they should be no losers in the End and that the Cause they managed was Gods who would infallibly succeed and reward them And for the 3d. 1 The Doctrine they were to infuse and plant It was perfectly contrary to the Nature and Inclination of those that were to receive it and would certainly expose them to sufferings in the world and make them the scorn and reproach of all Unbelievers which at this time was all the world except a few inconsiderable Idiots The very First Elements of this Doctrine were so cross and displeasing to flesh and Blood which before this Doctrine was received ruled all the world that without the concurring mighty power of God It was plainly impossible that it should be entertained For Men to deny themselves and to take up their Cross and follow Christ and boldly to profess themselves his disciples and glory in his Name who was so despised and hated of all Men To renounce the flesh with its Affections and Lusts To love their enemies and heartily to seek the wellfare of those that seek their hurt and rejoyce in their Calamity To live as strangers and Pilgrims in the world having their only delight and treasure above And to despise the world and all its glory as it draws away the Heart from God To prefer reproach and affliction with the people of God before the pleasures of sin which are but for a season And to chuse heartily to be a door-keeper in the House of God and to have the meanest Office in his Service before the most stately Palaces of vanity and wickedness and the highest Honour in any other Service To lay all down at the Feet of his Maker and Redeemer with the most humble submission being ready to part with the dearest and nearest Comforts when the Lord would have it so In a word to be wholly at his beck in an Active and Passive Obedience These are Doctrins plain and easie to be understood but hard of digestion that grate hard upon the Flesh And yet these were the very Essentials of Christianity which they were to proclaim and command Men in the Name of God with all Authority to receive And to threaten destruction from the Lord to all Refusers How unlikely was this Doctrin to take with Flesh and Blood unless it were accompanied with power from above And for the fourth viz. The mighty opposition that it met with even all the Potentates on Earth the Kings and great Men the wise Men and Philophers the Statists and Polititians counted this wisdom of God meer foolishness And therefore it was the great objection that the Infidels and Heathens assaulted the Doctrin of Christ with that none but the rude Multitude became his Disciples and Followers though afterwards Dionysius the Areopagite Polycarp Justin Irenaeus and learned Origen quite spoiled the Heathenish Hopes and undid this foolish Objection For they saw that it was not want of Learning that made them Christians For Origen had so much that the most learned Plotinus seeing him amongst his Auditors blush'd and after a few words abruptly brake off his Lecture And you know it was the Pharisaical Objection against Christ Have any of the Rulers believed on him But these People that know not the Law meaning those that embraced Christs Doctrin are accused John 7.48 49. Yea the Jews themselves whom God had so much obliged to himself by so many remarkable Favours were filled with bitter Indignation and Malice and did fiercely persecute all that entertained this Doctrin and wanted neither Spight nor Zeal nor Opportunity to crush all that went this way and to bring heavy sufferings upon them Moreover which was the grand Impediment of all to the Christian Faith there were then such swarms of Hereticks 1. Such as professed Christianity but hated it in their hearts and did their utmost to root it up And yet it prospered before their Faces whilst they stood and looked on gnashing their Teeth and fretting That naked simple and illiterate Men should prevail against all manner of
bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce So Psa 22.14 15. what a sad Lamentation have you I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joynt my heart is like wax it 's melted in the midst of my bowels my strength is dried up like a Potsheard and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws and thou hast brought me into the dust of death So Psa 31.9 10. Have mercy on me O Lord for I am in trouble mine eye is consumed with grief yea my Soul and my Belly for my life is spent with grief and my years with sighing my strength faileth because of mine iniquity and my bones are consumed But if you look into the 88 Psal the case of Heman seems there to be far more sad because it was more constant and uninterrupted than David's was vers 14 15 16. c. Lord why castest thou off my Soul why hidest thou thy face from me I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up whilst I suffer thy terrours I am distracted Thy fierce wrath goeth over me thy terrours have cast me off they came round about me daily like water they compassed me about together Lover and Friend hast thou put far from me and mine Acquaintance into darkness And how pitifully doth the Church complain under the effects of Gods sharp displeasure as you may see in the Book of the Lamentations So that you may perceive by these few instances that the wrath of God even on this side Hell is not to be slighted and if a drop or two light so heavy upon men that had such grace courage and fortitude to bear up under it how heavy must it needs be when it falls with its whole weight upon men in the state of torments Wo be to them on whom it falls it will grind them to powder If a little sickness be so sharp and terrible sometime that it makes a stout heart to speak trembling and turns a fresh coloured face into paleness and makes the beauty thereof to consume away like a Garment fretted by a Moth How will men speak and look under the pains of the second death How restless are men under some Acute Distempers they toss up and down and tell the hours and watch for the Morning Light in hope the Sun should rise upon them with healing in its wings And if men roar under a Fit of the Gout or Collick what then shall they do in Hell And as the torments of Hell are no Flea bite nor to be slighted by any the stoutest heart so neither are they unavoidable for then I should not recommend them to your Consideration But when the misery of that place cannot find a tongue to utter and express it nor set forth the greatness of it and Consideration is such a certain way to escape it who but a Mad-man or one that doth not believe it will refuse at least some time to think seriously on it till he hath some well grounded hope to escape it I will take it for granted that that man is resolved to try his strength and see how well he can bear it that will not endure the sober deliberate thoughts of it in his mind O Sirs if when an Angel of light descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the mouth of the Sepulchre where our Saviour was buried and sate upon it the guilty Keepers for fear of him did shake and became as dead men Mat. 28.2 4. How will such as are condemned to Hell shake and tremble when Angels of Darkness shall continually appear before them That horrible sight together with the inward terrours of their own despairing Consciences will fright them into everlasting trembling and fearfulness If thou hast a mind to escape that place of perpetual darkness and despair consider it well now and let it sink into thy serious thoughts Lastly Consider the infallible truth and certianty of all this I confess there is something that is dubious and uncertain in every one of these particulars but yet there is something also that is of the highest certainty something that you may well make a question of but yet something that 's past all controversie and question among Christians Let me give you a brief Recapitulation 1. There 's nothing more certain than that there is a God and that he is Infinite in all perfections that he hath made all Creatures and that he is the absolute Lord and Governour of Mankind and his principal Benefactor Thus much is unquestionable But it is a very great question whether thou dost acknowledge him sincerely for thy Owner Soveraign and one that hath every way obliged thee and art truly devoted to him in heart and life 2. It 's most certain that he hath made thee for no lower Ends than his service and that he hath given thee a Law to teach thee how he will be served and that he expecteth thou shouldest be heartily subject to him and obedient to his Laws and that thou should'st believe and patiently wait for his rewards in so doing But it is a matter of Enquiry and Self-examination whether thou hast answered this Intention of God in thy Creation and obeyed his Laws in a confident expectation of his Rewards 3. It is past doubt that thou hast broken the Law of thy Creation corrupted thy Nature lived in Disobedience and cast off the Yoke of thy Creator that thou hast by Original and Actual Transgressions forfeited thy life and all thy other mercies and deserveth to be dealt with as a Rebel and a Traytor to thy Soveraign Lord and Ruler But it is a matter of doubt and therefore should be seriously enquired by thee whether thou dost acknowledge from thy heart and art sensible of thy sin and misery thereby All the world are miserable but they are but few that are affected with their misery 4. It is certain that Christ hath shed his Blood to redeem all Mankind and that Pardon and Remission is offered to all that do heartily repent and believe That God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3.16 That none are excepted in this Act of Oblivion and Free-grace but such as refuse the Mercy offered and continue in wilful impenitency and unbelief You will not come unto me that you may have life John 5.40 But it is a matter of very great doubt and question whether thou hast any sincere Repentance towards God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ whether thou hast sufficiently bewailed thy corrupt Nature that was born with thee into the world and thy Rebellion against thy Maker in the course of thy life and wilful transgression of his Laws and whether thou art so deeply wounded with the bitter sense of thy sin as to submit to the Yoke and Government of Christ that he may deliver thee from the bondage of thy sins For though Christ be offered to all and
acknowledgeth And therefore Origen Arnob. Tertulian Justin Martyr Athanasius Clemens Alexandrinus Athenagoras Lactantius with the rest that dealt with the Heathens do make the pure Excellency of Christs Doctrine above all other Doctrine whereby it promoteth Holiness and Justice and order in the World and strongly opposeth all impious and unrighteous Practises in which the Devils are delighted whereby their Kingdom is very much weakened and in some places utterly ruined one of the main Arguments for the Christian Faith Would the Devil ever set any seal or give any confirming Testimony to such Precepts as command that which he hateth to such Promises as encourage Men every where to hate and oppose him to such threatening as tend exceedingly to discourage and bring to repentance all his Confederates Would he helpon such a Doctrine that teacheth Men What a filthy malicious Spirit he is and from what a Happiness he fell and what a design he driveth on against God and whatsoever hath the Face of Goodness and how he hateth Mankind and would bring all Men into the same cursed condition with himself Would he have Men know his devices least he should come upon them unawares And would he have them abhor and tremble at the mention of his very Name These are the effects that this Doctrin is like to have upon Mens Minds And therefore it 's past doubt that if the Devil could work Miracles he would never do it in the present case nor give the least Countenance to such writings But if he were Master of such a Seal and had that Faculty he would rather lend it to the Sects that seek to disparage undermine and cry down these Writings in the World He perfectly hateth that parity that runneth in every vein of the Christian Doctrine which made Aeneas Sylv. say ut Plat. p. 328. Christiana Fides si Miraculis nonesset approbata Honestate suâ recipi debuit And therefore it would be a wonder indeed if he should do a Miracle to confirm it The Miracles therefore that were wrought in Attestation of this Doctrine never came from him He had no more hand in the Miracles than he had in the Doctrine they bore witness to or than he would have in the overthrow of his own Kingdom And therefore Mr. Stillingfleet Orig. Sac. l. 2.10 well makes it a Test or Criterium of Miracles wrought by a Divine Power where they tend to the overthrow of Satans Power in the World And this Argument taken from Miracles conjunct with the Holy Doctrine which they ratifie and attest is such a demonstration of the Truth of the Mosaical Religion before Christ and to the Christian Religion since that to attribute these Miracles to the Devil which could not possibly be wrought by any other Power than the Finger of the Holy-Ghost is now commonly thought by the most learned and judicious Divines to be The Blasphemy against the Holy-Ghost c. The unpardonable Sin Thus Athanasius Episcopus and Dr. Hammond thought and Mr. Baxter hath demonstratively shewed in his Treat of Infidelity The only Exception that can have any shew of Pretence to invalidate this Argument is that the matters of fact seem to be Questionable 1 Some may possibly question whether ever such Miracles were wrought to confirm the Scriptures or whether ever there were such a person as Christ that did such Mighty works that dyed and rose again from the Dead and poured forth a Holy and Miraculous Spirit upon his Followers for the Conviction of Infidels Answer The matter of Fact can be questioned with no more Reason than whether there be such a City as Rome or Constantinople by the Persons that never saw them or whether there ever lived such a Person as Julius or Augustus Caesar For there is the same or greater Evidence for THOSE than these is for These But there is none that will question these And the Reason is because this their Assent is grounded upon Two Principles that will not suffer any dissent The first is It 's impossible that so many Men in so many Ages should meet or combine in a Lye when they get nothing by their Lye Nulla ratam testis debet habere Ovid ubi premia falsi ibidem The second is It 's not possible the sences of so many Men should fail them and that they should all mistake and be deluded that were eye and Earwitnesses of the matter of Fact and both saw and heard the Authors of those Writings and the Miracles which they wrought to confirm them See Pet. Hart. de Mendozâ Phys disp 8. de Animâ Sect. 3. and Sect. 23.4 5. pag. 570. And the same Author to This Question what sort of Evidence is that by which I believe that there is such a place as Rome upon the witness of so many Men asserting it Answereth It is Physical For it is impossible even in a Physical sense that so many Men in so many Ages should so lye so that I have no less Evidence that there is a City called Rome than that all Fire is heating Thus he See Mr. Baxter's Spirits witness to the Truth of Christianity pag. 68. The same or as infallible Physical Evidence have we of the Truth of the Miracles by which the Holy-Ghost did witness to the Truth of the Christian Faith For First It 's naturally impossible that so many Churches in so many Countries of the World at such a distance should combine to lye in telling the world that the Holy-Ghost was given and Tongues spoken and Miracles done amongst them for so many Years if it had not been so Secondly Man hath a Nature as well as a Free-will and the understanding naturally enclines to Truth and the will hath naturally and of Necessity Good as Good for its object And man as well as Brutes hath a Nature that cannot but love it self and desire its own wellfare and abhor death and Misery Temporral and Eternal And therefore tho here and there a Man in some desperate Passion may make away himself yet we are Physically certain that it must be a thing which they do indeed believe that must perswade Cities and Countries of People in their wits to cast their Estates and Lives into the Hands of Bloody Tyrants and utterly ruin their worldly hopes And especially when they do all this in hope of a Blessedness in the Life to come Where it is impossible that so many Men of Reason should expect to be blessed for conspiring in a Lye but rather to be everlastingly cursed and miserable by the justice of that God from whom they expect their Reward I conclude therefore that the Case being resolved into Mans Natural Principles and inclinations so clearly as it is There is natural Evidence of the Truth of these Miracles This infallible Certainty that we have or may have is grounded upon Vniversal Tradition whereby Vniversal is not meant the Consent of all Men in the World no more than all the world is meant by Vniversal Church